You don’t know the truth, or you would not make ignorant statements like that.

People litter downtown but there is an army of people working who pick up the litter.

I don’t litter nor do my friends. You can’t classify all people by what you see a few do.

The Russian mob kill, people deal drugs hello!!!!!! But I don’t blame all the Russians. If you don’t like Harlem or its residents, leave. In every race ther are ignorant people.

When some residents in Harlem tried to get loans to buy property and open up businesses and they were denied even though they had good credit.
Ever heard of redlining?
We have problems as do other groups , but
If you don’t have posistive suggestions remain silent.
Harlem has never been a “wasteland.” There were and are still areas that need to be rebuilt. You obviously have never seen Striver Row and other areas.

]]>By: Harley Harlemitehttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/comment-page-1/#comment-417717
Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:32:56 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/#comment-417717As a person who group in Harlem, I know what it was to be the person sitting on the stoop with a dog telling crackhoods to keep moving and know what it was to stand on line at Georigies bakery on 125 street.

For sure Harlem is not what it once was. This means that there are definite improvements but it also means that much of Harlem’s unique character is being destroyed never to be realized again.

I concur with many of the previous posts that assert our politicians did not serve the Harlem community. I beleive this to be especially true when one considers that very few real esate developers of color were given opportunities to develop Harlem and that only national chains were gien prime real estate locations. This is in large part is because Harlem politicians are more concerned with their relationships with big money companies in lieu of the community’s interests.

It is important to note that even though African-Americans did and do not own Harlem, for many years its population was almost 100% black. Remember when the 102 bus or the 2 train hit 96 street and all the white people got off the bus or train respectively. Perhaps what upsets me most is that black politicians and many of Harlem’s new white residents do not respect the efforts and history of many longtime Harlem residents who sacrificed to realize psoitive change in harlem.Yes you have right to be here, but you are not the catalyst for change.

Change happened over many years of sitting on the stoop and telling crackheads to keep moving on. Instead you in many ways are the change that takes iconic landmarks Georgies bakery from Harlem. Because you weren’t in Harlem you don’t even know what has been lost by your migration uptown. in Be cognizant of Harlem as more than just real estate. For its is a place madeup of its African-American history and people.

Also, Politicians that represent Harlem should be ashamed of themselves. They are not about Harlem’s people rather they are about he opportunities to line the pockets of their campaigms and of their downtown friends.

]]>By: harlem resident-toohttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/comment-page-1/#comment-413871
Wed, 15 Apr 2009 04:15:01 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/#comment-413871I am white, and moved to Harlem 5 years ago with my family to escape the insane UWS attitude of “get out of the way! I’m shopping!” I wanted my daughter to be in a community, of people who would say hello, and know our name, and who would stand on the street and talk about the day with us, not be distracted, on their handheld unit, or too busy racing off, to take the time to make some kind of human contact.
we are happy to be in a real neighborhood, a neighborhood that is much more reminiscent of the NY I grew up in as a kid. A neighborhood of folks, young and old, rich and not rich, black, white and Latino, who are good people, all trying to find their way.

Harlem is a wonderful place. Troubled at times, yes. But, it is the kind of NY that I feel most at home with.

Like all the emerging neighborhoods on our Island, it will find it’s way.
and I am very happy to live there.

]]>By: pffthttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/comment-page-1/#comment-413079
Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:25:44 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/#comment-413079Diversity is not a one way street, neither is tolerance. I live in Harlem and I love it, does the color of my skin or the number on my tax return make my contribution and caring in my neighborhood somehow less valid?
]]>By: THINKhttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/comment-page-1/#comment-412633
Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:44:20 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/#comment-412633Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. was really the last effective political leader in Harlem. Since then, Harlem—whose business infrastructure, then and now, was largely owned by other ethnic groups—never recovered from the overinflated notion of being the capitol of Black America. Obama’s rise from relative obscurity proves that the current crop of black elected officials, from sea to shining sea, have no vision. The black masses are well aware of this. And in New York, black political leadership, at best, could be described as political maids and butlers.

Drug dealing, crime, and poverty drove the price of Harlem’s real estate down during the past 40-odd years to the point where it was practically worthless. Look at Graham Court, once a truly magisterial luxury apartment building. The sister building, The Apthorp, is located on West 79th and Broadway. The Apthorp was recently sold for $462 million and was converted to condos. Graham Court was allowed to deteriorate to the point where folks are urinating in the elevators.

Black folks need to face certain realties in New York. Ethnic groups control neighborhoods and exert political influence—which can clearly be seen by the Jews, Italians, and Irish in New York.

Black folks never really controlled anything in Harlem except the ability to run their mouths.

Look at the Museum of the City of New York. Are there any exhibitions reflecting the development and changes that have occurred in Harlem? This is a Museum located in East Harlem. Are there any blacks working there as full-time curators or in any capacity other than maintenance or security guards?

Black Harlemites need a new vision and it has to come from young people who are pragmatic realists. Power in this society is an expression of business acumen and control of resources. A real black middle-class in Harlem would, in turn, be reflected by what they control in Harlem. This is the case among the middle-class of other ethnic groups where they reside. Hence, the notion of a black middle-class (other than being segmented into income brackets by the U.S. census) does not exist in Harlem.

]]>By: Ririhttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/comment-page-1/#comment-412565
Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:07:57 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/#comment-412565Everything is wrong with predominately black communities until the richer and well heeled decide to move in and see it proper to condemn an entire community based on the actions of a few. Suddenly new properties are developed and the community becomes suitable for investment and entrepreneur opportunities. Before then was just a vast wasteland.

My attitude regarding Harlem and New York is like that that of former president Ford…they can drop dead !

And for those who would suggest that I move out of the city if I hate it so much – I wasn’t waiting for your permission to leave and my exit isn’t happening fast enough!

]]>By: Truth in Harlemhttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/comment-page-1/#comment-412209
Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:36:45 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/#comment-412209Fred Perry is a joke. His board is anti-white and racist. They all vote against developments. And what is pathetic is the city listens to them. Too bad folks. Gentrification will continue. And if Harlem wants to help Harlem, why don’t they teach their children and citizens not to litter. And oh – how about guns. What is it about blacks and guns? You don’t see poor Russians in Brighton Beach shooting each other every night do you? No where in this city is the litter and gun violence so bad as in Harlem. Parents need to become parents.
]]>By: Harlem residenthttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/comment-page-1/#comment-412107
Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:53:53 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/#comment-412107Harlem needs some good leadership not Inez Dinkins the slumlord politician who should clean up her act with the buildings she owns. Why does she still have her 2005 campaign sign on one of her crumbling buildings?

On another note, Community Board 10 needs to look at other issues besides housing. Small businesses in the community can not survive when there is NO daytime traffic such as office workers in the neighborhood and the parking situation is dreadful. Plus better retail in the New York Housing Authority Buildings in Harlem which could lead to some local jobs. landlord to the worst retail.

]]>By: ajhttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/comment-page-1/#comment-411967
Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:45:29 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/#comment-411967why is it so many posting make it sound like harlem should be an enclave dedicated to the habitation of a specific racial group(s). Every part of every city should be available for anyone of any race to live comfortably. It disgusting that people of other races have to feel prejudiced against by those who just happen to have populated the area for the last 50-80 years…Race relations in this country and the development of a society where we are all welcome equal and comfortable to live in racially and culturally diverese communities will never fully happen with the thinking of some of the people who have posted on here. I’m of mixed back ground and until the bigots change their ways this country our cities towns and villages will stay ghettos of bigotry and hatred if we don’t welcome and embrace diversity.
]]>By: One angry uptown negrohttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/comment-page-1/#comment-411947
Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:21:23 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/#comment-411947Harlem has been ill served by the Black Tammany Hall that rules the roost, but feathers only their cliques beds…..Obama has to deal with them, the way people have to deal with taxes and snowstorms, but he;s trying to project GOOD GOVERNMENT, and the like of Rent-Stabilized Charlie, Developer Dickens, Go Along to Get Along Wright, Past Sale Date Farrell, Disaster-I- Ushered- In-Two-Decades- of- Republican-Rule Dinkins and Keep the Party-On Paterson do not qualify. Save really for Rangel, there is really not a leader amoing them, and his leadership is covered in self-serving grime. The real suffering of Harlemites gets ignored and offered pablum……just like what their house boy Perry is offering. Mobutu and Papa Doc were more responsive to their constituents.
]]>By: Marchttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/comment-page-1/#comment-411941
Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:18:19 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/#comment-411941The shot of the ‘boarded up buildings’ on 126th st is actually of active construction sites. The photographer only shot the top windows: if he had widened the shot to include the street, you would have seen construction workers either carting out old material or carrying in new materials, depending on which of the buildings.
126th st is actually a very nice street.
]]>By: Chi Chihttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/comment-page-1/#comment-411923
Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:53:35 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/#comment-411923As to post #4, Mr Perry is indeed standing, as in the caption accompanying the photo, NEAR the Apollo and not in front of it.
]]>By: natehttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/comment-page-1/#comment-411893
Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:36:47 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/#comment-411893I concur with Davidavid, this describes perfectly what has happened in the neighborhood. I have lived in central Harlem since 2005 and have watched things change remarkably in just the last few years. It is a nice place and affordable place to live compared with downtown. Lots of families and generally quiet and safe streets.

What worries me now though is the obvious increase in drug-related activity over the last couple of months. Definitely higher than it has been in a long time, and not a good sign.

]]>By: Mojohttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/comment-page-1/#comment-411845
Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:07:05 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/#comment-411845Clean up the corner East Harlem and 125th Street. That place is like the four corners of hell. Who wants to buy a million dollar building when Harlem has only a couple of healthy supermarkets (Pathmark is the pits) and trash everywhere on the East side…
]]>By: Anonhttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/comment-page-1/#comment-411801
Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:28:55 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/surviving-after-the-boom-in-harlem/#comment-411801You’re all fooling yourselves if you think that gentrification has halted and that Harlem real estate prices have dropped significantly. The wave of gentrification continues and properties continue to switch hands. Those who want to stay in Harlem need to prepare and re-educate themsleves for an uncertain future…..education and proper planning are key!

By the way the boarded-up brownstones on 126th st. sit within the rezoning footprint which is why many remain vacant. I believe the plan is to eventually make that area part of the cultural and theater district……this is part of Bloomberg’s plan which identified Harlem as a business district.